"How important it has been to the LEAD program to have an active inspired art museum on our campus. LEAD students have had the opportunity to meet artists, hear them talk about their work, work directly with them, and to create their own exhibits for the museum. An essential part of being a well-educated person is being in touch with your soul, and our friends at the Euphrat have always made a concerted effort to provide a space for students to get in touch with their artistic spirit."

First Thursdays, hosted by the Black Student Union and the Institute of Community and Civic Engagement, is a poetry, spoken word, and open mic event featuring DJ Chris Styles. A $3 donation is requested. Coordinated by McTate M. Stroman II.

The Randoms singing at the BSU hosted First Thursdays.
Photo: Nick Girard

Historian Connie Young Yu:
What better launching pad for “made in the usa” than the Euphrat Musuem of Art at De Anza?
We are at the confluence of the arts, of history, education and civic engagement.
This event is about more than unveiling of an art piece: It provides a forum for the history of Chinese Exclusion laws and the struggle for civil rights, the current issue of saving marine life, and the inspiring narrative of our own Honorable Assembly Paul Fong and his family...

The complete transcript of Connie Young Yu's presentation can be found here.

Photo: Bob Hsiang

Artist Flo Oy Wong:
The Honorable Paul Fong, Chancellor Thor, Jan, and those of you who are assembled here today to witness the unveiling of made in usa: Paul Fong I thank you for coming. We are here to honor Paul whose maternal grandfather, Chan Share, came to this country from China in 1939. That was 47 years after the passage of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Law...

The complete transcript of Flo Oy Wong's presentation can be found here.

First Thursdays, hosted by the Black Student Union and the Institute of Community and Civic Engagement, is a poetry, spoken word, and open mic event featuring DJ Chris Styles. A $3 donation is requested. Began November 5 (2009). McTate M. Stroman II and Thomasina Russaw, Coordinators.

Conceptual artist April Banks speaks about her art, including her provocative photographic series We Love To Watch, her installations, such as The Price of Rice (Let's Talk of a System), and her activist cross-country travel blog.
For her photograph Milk Bath, Banks worked with DeQawn Mobley, a former
collegiate and NFL player. Mobley is shown putting on his gear amid stereotypic
symbols of milk and watermelon. The photo calls attention to the commodified
image of the hyper-masculine black athletic body as violent and sexual — a
ubiquitous "game piece," putting on his game face. Using the historically racially
charged symbol of the watermelon, this work explores Mobley’s experience as a
collegiate and NFL player and its well-debated parallels to the slave trade. Going
beyond a first-person narrative, Banks and Mobley explore what it means to be
reduced to a game time object on the field, watched and "loved" by millions.
Questions and discussion to follow.

Brenda Brathwaite "Games Like Photographs: Capturing Emotions"
Wednesday, February 16, 6:30pmForum 1, next to Administration Building in the center of campus
(Check back to this webpage for possible room change.)

Noted indie game developer Brenda Brathwaite speaks about "Difficult History," periods such as the Holocaust, Middle Passage, Trail of Tears, and the Irish experience. With a focus on her provocative games, such as Train, Brathwaite challenges academic learning/knowing about difficult histories, pushing you to experience strong emotions then reflection, during game-play and long afterward. These artful games are intriguing and compelling complements to narrative, poetry, photography, video, and film. Questions and discussion to follow.

Susana Ruiz "Take Action Games"
Tuesday, February 22, 9:30am, 10:30amAdmin 109, Administration Building in the center of campus
(Check back to this webpage for possible room change.)

Noted game developer Susana Ruiz speaks about Take Action Games (TAG) and creating games as Finding Zoe, Darfur is Dying, and In the Balance, an ongoing trans-media project. TAG is also wrapping up a quiz-based game for the United Nations Development Fund for Women. Ruiz and TAG worked with Toronto's METRAC (Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children) to create Finding Zoe. METRAC was interested in a game for youth, ages 8-14, addressing abusive dating relationships and gender stereotyping. TAG specializes in casual games for change, addressing social/political content, traversing the intersections of computational art, narrative, journalism, activism, ethics, history and documentary. Questions and discussion to follow.

The story of 2010 student organizing at De Anza, through a display of photography, articles, film, and art. Focusing on the Educational Movement and how a group of diverse and concerned students at De Anza created awareness about the constant reductions of funding for education within and outside of the campus. "We are students who have our stories of change… We need to fight for our right to an affordable and great education."

"The goal is to empower students to become motivated to do something (through photos, spoken word, art pieces, literature) and create a better understanding of the importance of student involvement at their schools and in their community. We really cannot do that without education."

First Thursdays, hosted by the Black Student Union and the Institute of Community and Civic Engagement, is a poetry, spoken word, and open mic event featuring DJ Chris Styles. A $3 donation is requested. Began November 5 (2009). The next event will be June 17. McTate M. Stroman II and Thomasina Russaw, Coordinators.

The Randoms singing at the BSU hosted First Thursdays.
Photo: Nick Girard

Sam Hernandez, longtime professor of sculpture at Santa Clara University, will speak in front of his work and relate how his art changed from when he started to now. Hernandez will also bring small works and shed some light on exhibition artworks: the wall piece Dichos y Bichos, with a long list of folk wisdom in Spanish and Homage, a free-standing totemic Chinese scholar-stone work ("awkward stone," Northern style), with inlaid pool balls in the base for nodules. For more information about Hernandez, visit www.samhernandezart.com.

As part of a visiting scholar sequence, Looper showed how to interpret the form, meaning, and social significance of ancient Maya glyphs and suggested ways contemporary artists can use these in their art. Looper’s specialty is the study of ancient Maya art and writing. He has worked with the current Mayan communities in Guatemala and is an expert on Maya weaving and dance. His book, To Be Like Gods: Dance in Ancient Maya Civilization (2009) was given the College Art Association award for best new publication in Latin American arts.

Yeh’s woodblock prints utilize history, subtle humor, exchange and generosity, social intervention and technical craft," opening lively dialog on cultural understanding, playing with subjects such as "good imports" and "student loans." "I am interested in American and Chinese history and in the many ways both cultures and economies are entangled today." After addressing social commentary in her art, Yeh led creative brainstorming sessions on changing "popular" representations of groups or ideas, even disciplines, such as the arts, that have been burdened by stereotypes. Yeh’s work is featured in the Euphrat In Between exhibition.

Crocetti’s Counting Lives Lost traveling installation breaks through the
numbness generated by the increasing numbers of US and Iraq fatalities
from the war in Iraq. Her work required many students to help install.
The process encourages discussion, crossing barriers, offering a way to
heal and respect this tremendous loss. Her installation is in the campus
Main Quad. A symbolic portion of the installation plus student responses
are on display in the Euphrat. Read the Mercury News article about Crocetti's exhibit.

Kathleen Crocetti, Sculptor, Member of Blue Star Mothers with a son serving in the Air Force

Shorty Fatz, May 21, 2009"Custom Bikes: Cartooning, Individualized Design and Community"
12:30 pm, Euphrat Museum of Art
Presentation and Conversation with Artist Sam Rodriguez about Bike Culture, Public Art, and Creating a Small Business

Samuel Rodriguez and Matthew Rodriguez create unique bikes that speak to
individual dreams. "Our goals are to create a stylish cruise with comfort
and durability." The ubiquitous Shorty Fatz cartoon character has a story
of its own. This is a new Silicon Valley story – reaching youth with
graphics and bike workshops, building an art company. Shorty Fatz is
featured in a Euphrat "Front View" window installation with a signature
bike and cartoon mural.

Euphrat Participatory Session in
Debugging the Silicon Dream: Real Life in a Virtual World
California Studies Conference, April 24, 2009
"Euphrat Museum of Art Perspectives on Silicon Valley"
2–3:20pm, Euphrat Museum of Art
1-4pm, exhibition open for viewing

The Euphrat Museum is participating in the California Studies Conference on the De Anza College campus April 24. A number of sessions relate to the arts and complement our current exhibition Looking Back, Looking Ahead. One of those sessions is in the Euphrat Museum and features artists in our exhibition, including Angela Filo and Consuelo Underwood. "Euphrat Museum of Art Perspectives on Silicon Valley," 2-3:20. See the Program on their web site. Except for the Euphrat session, all sessions are held in the Campus Center Conference Rooms A & B.

World-renowned painter Paul Pei-Jen Hau has a museum named after him in eastern China. Opened in 2002, it contains many of his artworks and art from his personal collection. Hau’s bold watercolor and ink paintings bridge cultures of East and West, with references from the Ming dynasty to the vanguard of Western abstraction. Born in 1917 in Liaoning Province, Hau studied in both China and Japan. In 1956 he moved to California. He has taught locally for over 50 years. At age 92, he still paints. Hau is featured in the Euphrat Museum of Art’s inaugural exhibition, Looking Back, Looking Ahead.

Paul Hau, Artist, Author (three novels, a history of sociology, a book on Chinese art)

Consuelo Jimenez Underwood, March 17, 200910am - 1pm, Mini Artist-in-Residence in the Euphrat
Conversation with the Artist about Art, Education, Labor, and Community
A project with Women's History Month

Whether hand woven or stitched from tortilla cloths, Underwood's art vividly evokes border issues, indigenous communities, and the immigrant experience. "I find myself still navigating between three cultures on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border." With looms, works in process, favorite materials, and an assortment of literature and objects, Underwood speaks about her art and life, including observations on challenges and successes of Latino/a Education. Underwood is part of Euphrat 's inaugural exhibition Looking Back, Looking Ahead.

Domingo and Noble speak about Silicon Valley De-Bug, its Community Advocacy Criminal Justice Project, in particular the experience of mothers who are fighting the criminal justice system. Domingo is part of the Euphrat's inaugural exhibition Looking Back, Looking Ahead. Photos from her photo essay on this mothers project are on display. The mothers face problems with the criminal justice system, juvenile hall, and deportation. De-Bug is a collective of writers, artists, organizers, and workers based in San José. They are a project of Pacific News Service.

Favianna Rodriguez, March 5, 200810:30 -11:20, 11:30 – 12:20, Presentations in MCC10
12:30 Gathering at Building Together collaborative art fence project, north side of MCC
3:30 -4:00, Presentation, California History Center
A project with Women’s History Month

Favianna Rodriguez’s art reflects "national and international grassroots struggles, and tells a history of social justice through graphics." Rodriguez is a founding member of the EastSide Arts Alliance (ESAA), an Oakland-based collective of third world artists and community organizers. Her art is part of the Euphrat exhibition Graphic Storytelling as Activism. Her silkscreen Designs on Democracy: Communication for Liberation shows the intersection between being a designer and an activist. Rodriguez was schooled in East Oakland by Chicano political-poster artists. www.favianna.com. She has been featured on KQED’s SPARK.

Keith Knight is part of the Euphrat exhibition Graphic Storytelling as Activism. Some cartoons are from the book Beginner's Guide to Community-Based Arts, which features graphic stories about artists, educators, and activists across the U.S. Other images are from his nationally syndicated comic strips, "The K Chronicles" and "(th)ink." Knight is part of a new generation of talented young African-American artists who infuse their work with urgency, edge, humor, satire, politics and race. www.kchronicles.com He has been featured on KQED’s SPARK.

Oliver Chin, January 30, 2008Lecture and slide show 3:30-4:30, Room 119, Administration Building
Reception and Q&A, 4:30-5:00, Euphrat Museum of Art
A project with the Visiting Artist Series sponsored by the Creative Arts Division

Oliver Chin's diverse range of work includes The Tao of Yao: Insights from Basketball's Brightest Big Man, and children's books such as Julie Black Belt. His graphic novel 9 of 1: A Window to the World received a 2003 Honorable Mention for the Gustavus Myers Award. Drawings from this novel are on display at the Euphrat Museum of Art as part of the exhibition Graphic Storytelling as Activism. Images and words deal with perspectives of many people around the time of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The format is of nine members of an eleventh grade class interviewing various members of their diverse community.

Oliver Chin, Author, Illustrator, Publisher

Michael Arcega, November 19, 2007Presentation 11:30-1:00 in Conference Room B, Hinson Campus Center,
A project with the Institute of Community and Civic Engagement

Michael Arcega is in the forefront of creating artworks that challenge our cultural and academic institutions. He uses language and humor to discuss serious subjects, such as issues of globalization. By working with history and historic icons, he draws attention to implements of power like military strength, organized religion, and trade. His art, primarily sculpture and installations, is often about previous events that are currently being repeated. Born in Manila, Philippines, Arcega immigrated to Los Angeles as a youth. He has appeared on SPARK*, KQED, and his art has been widely exhibited. Some of his galleon-trade series is in the Moving Cultures exhibition at the Euphrat.

The Euphrat Museum in conjunction with the Puente Project, the Writing and Reading Center, and Intercultural/International Studies, arranged a day on campus with Norma Cantú. The Euphrat exhibition Moving Cultures contains collaborative prints of artist Marta Sanchez and poet Norma Cantú, including the colorful print R cigarro R barril, featured on the announcement. Cantú is the author of the award -winning Canícula Snapshots of a Girlhood en la Frontera and co-editor of Chicana Traditions: Continuity and Change. She has been a major force in Chicana/o studies for more than 30 years.

Mendoza will give several presentations,
one specifically for a class in Emerging Latina/o
Leadership. He will include visuals related to his
current public art project in San José. He
has also created public art as part of Project Row
Houses in Houston. He was a Norcal Artist-in-Residence
in 2005. Mendoza is a recipient of a Eureka Fellowship
and a Ford Foundation Fellowship. The latter was
in collaboration with MACLA as part of the Intersections project for the Williams Reed neighborhood in downtown
San José. His work has been exhibited throughout
the United States, Europe, Japan and Mexico.

Hector Dio Mendoza, Public Artist

Nazanin
Shenasa, March 15 and April 12, 2007"Material
Culture exhibition: Arts and Leadership"

Shenaza presented concepts of Arts and Leadership
in connection with the Material
Culture exhibition, which she assisted in
curating. She called attention to exhibiting artists'
lives as leaders, e.g. Chike Nwoffiah, Director
of Oriki Theater and former board member of Arts
Council Silicon Valley; and Reneé Billingslea, who
led her photography students at Santa Clara University
on a recent multifaceted project involving the homeless
in the county.

Nazanin Shenaza, Instructor at De Anza College,
Programming Director for Works Gallery, San José

Eugene
Rodriguez, November 22, 2006"Before,
During and After FLOOD"

Presentation includes his film, FLOOD,
which recently won first place at the Tribes New
York Film Festival.

In a multimedia presentation, Eugene Rodriguez will
speak to the topic of "Arts,
Community and the Public Purpose." Using
his latest film, FLOOD,
as a jumping-off point, Rodriguez will address the
need for a national conversation on the rewriting
of contemporary arts programs/training to accommodate
a more democratic practice and to broaden the definition
of "artist" beyond its current confines.

Eugene Rodriguez, Instructor at De Anza College

Susan
Cervantes, October 18, 2006"Precita
Eyes and Mural Development in the Mission District"

Presentation and slide show, including how
one develops a community program and develops social
consciousness.